MORE than half the diamonds sold in government-held areas in southeastern Sierra Leone are mined in zones controlled by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels, an NGO said. A local NGO, the Campaign for Just Mining (CJM), said “nearly 60% of miners in Bo and Kenema are in league with rebels in the continuing smuggling and purchase of blood diamonds”. According to the CJM, the findings were gleaned by a team of experts. “Many dealers in the government-controlled areas are buying diamonds from the rebels and then sell them to exporters who in turn channel them into the government system to make them clean,” the report said. – AFP